Any Pro (working) Nikon users online?

[andyc0114]

I am after advice regarding my kit please. And it would be very much appreciated if any professional photographers could spare a few minutes to advise me. I am a landscape enthusiast/semi pro. Two years ago i took early retirement and purchased a D300 after reading a review on it by Digital Camera magazine which was positively glowing with many references to specifications shared with the D3. And what a beautiful camera it is; solid, chunky, and feels so good in the hand. A short while after though and out came the D300s along with magazine reviews telling me that in fact the D300 wasn't that good really the D300S is much better way way way much more like the D3. I have in front of me on my desk a brochure sent from nikon for the D700. This brochure repeatedly tells of the D700's similarities to the D3. The D800 will arrive soon and we will all be told (as with the D300' s successor) that it is much more like a D3 than the D700. I wonder if Nikon wrote the V.W Golf T.V advert? Now back to my kit i wanted to get some serious Pro quality glass but the choice seems limited for the D300 1.5 crop dx sensor. I know the f/2.8 17 - 55 is quoted in What Digital Camera Mag as ''dripping with true Professional build and image quality but it's expensive for a dx lens at £1300 and what if i wanted to go full frame (like a D3 LOL). So please tell me is the D300 up to the job, worth sticking with (immaculate - not a spec of dust on it even) and get the dx 17 - 55. Or will the crop sensor alway be a handy cap meaning i'd be better off selling my D300 and dx lens's and putting the money towards a D3 so that i can get the amazing nikon 24 - 70 f/2.8? Might go for the V.W Golf.

[OldBoy]

There is no reason why you can't buy the Nikon 24-70mm F2.8 and use it on the D300. If you are thinking of upgrading to full frame at a later date, then it makes sense to buy those lenses now. Also, consider the AIS lenses which were made for film cameras, as most of them will work just as well on a D3. I use 400mm F2.8 AIS lens on my D3 with full auto-focus no problems. For infomation on other Nikon lenses see Ken Rockwell's site, a link to which I've posted below.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/nikkor.htm

[andyc0114]

Thanks OldBoy that's helpful.

[andyc0114]

I am aware i can use the other (non dx) lens's on my D300 but the problem is the crop factor. The lens i want the Nikon F/2.8 24 - 70mm will not be wide enough for my landscape work I currently use the Sigma 10 - 20mm for the wider angle. And that gorgeous Nikon f/2.8 14 - 24mm is no good to me because it can't fit N.D Grads or any filters same as the 14mm due to that humongous protruding bubble of glass!

[OldBoy]

I also have the Nikon 14-24mm F2.8 but don't miss the fact I can't use any filters on it. If I need to use filters, then I put the Nikon 12-24mm F4 on the D3 and it works full frame at 17mm or above.